The desirability of country-of-origin labeling has been debated in Congress for most of a decade, and was made mandatory for several meat and other products in the 2008 farm Act. That program has been controversial since its inception on the grounds that it would have few, if any, consumer benefits and would be costly for beef producers.

Last July, the World Trade Organization issued its final ruling on the Canadian and Mexican complaint that U.S. COOL rules violate U.S. ...